Wireless systems internet gateway

• US 6,768,896 B2
• Filed: 01/04/2001
• Issued: 07/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Option Wireless Sweden AB
• Original Assignee: Possio AB (Crescent NV)
• Inventors: Soderberg, Ulf, Tjalldin, Birger
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Lee
• Application Number:
  US09/753,657
• Publication Number:
  US 20020037741A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,300 Days
• Field of Search: 455/11.1, 455/41.1, 455/41.2, 455/41.3, 455/552.1, 455/553.1, 455/426.1, 455/426.2, 370/338, 370/401
• US Class Current: 455/11.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

In a portable gateway a bridge between two wireless networks is provided. The gateway has a small size and can be carried in a pocket or a briefcase.

Claims

1. A gateway for providing a bridge between two different wireless networks, comprising:

a housing;

a battery, located within the housing, the battery serving as a primary power source rendering the gateway portable;

a bridge, located within the housing, the bridge serving to bridge between two wireless networks;

two different antennas for providing an air-interface between the bridge and the two respective wireless networks;

a first wireless communications unit associated with a first of the two antennas for communicating between a first of the two wireless networks and the bridge, the first wireless communications unit being located at least partly within the housing;

a first expansion card slot in registration with an opening in the housing and receiving the first wireless communication unit;

a second wireless communications unit for communicating between a second of the two wireless networks and the bridge, the second wireless communications unit being at least partly within the housing.

2. A gateway according to claim 1, characterized in that the antennas are positioned on opposite sides of the housing, thereby spacing the two antennas apart maximally.

3. A gateway according to claim 2, further comprising a second card slot for receiving the second wireless communications unit.

4. gateway according to claim 3, wherein the first and second card slots are coplanar.

5. A gateway according to claim 4, characterized in that the two card slot entries, are placed on different sides of the gateway along a longest length of the gateway.

6. A gateway according to claim 3, wherein,

the one of the two antennas is an integrated antenna, and

the first expansion card slot, is separated from the integrated antenna, thereby separating the integrated antenna and the antenna of the card maximally apart.

7. A gateway according to claim 3, characterized in that the first expansion card slot is designed to receive a CompactFlash Card.

8. A gateway according to claim 1 characterized in that one of the two wireless networks is a cellular wireless network.

9. A gateway according to claim 8, characterized in that the cellular network is a GSM (Global System for Mobile communication), or a GPRS (General Packet Radio Service), or a UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) network.

10. A gateway according to claim 1, characterized in that one of the wireless networks is a Bluetooth network.

11. A gateway according to claim 1, characterized in that the gateway comprises an embedded server for configuring of parameters relating to the different networks.

12. A portable gateway, comprising:

a gateway housing;

a first expansion slot within the housing for receiving a first expansion card comprising a first wireless communications interface to a first wireless network;

a second wireless communications interface to a second wireless network;

a bridge connecting the first and second wireless communications interfaces;

a battery providing power to the first and second wireless communications interfaces and to the bridge to render the gateway portable; and

first and second antennas located at opposite ends of the housing and associated respectively with the first and second wireless communications interfaces.

13. The gateway of claim 12, wherein the first expansion card is one of a CompactFlash card and a Secure Digital card.

14. The gateway of claim 13, further comprising:

a second expansion slot within the housing,

the second expansion slot being coplanar with the first expansion slot,

the second expansion slot receiving the second wireless communications interface,

the first and second antennas being located external to the housing.

15. The gateway of claim 14, wherein,

the housing has an elongated shape, and

the first and second expansion slots are located, in alignment along a longest length of the housing, at opposite ends of the housing.

16. The gateway of claim 12, wherein the second wireless communications interface an integrated interface permanently mounted within the housing.

17. The gateway of claim 12, wherein the first wireless communications interface is selectively selected from a set of wireless communications interfaces to provide connectivity to a selected one of plural types of wireless networks.

18. A portable gateway, comprising:

a gateway housing;

a first expansion slot within the housing for receiving a first expansion card comprising a first wireless communications interface to a first wireless network;

a second expansion slot within the housing for receiving a second wireless communications interface to a second wireless network;

a bridge connecting the first and second wireless communications interfaces;

a battery providing power to the first and second wireless communications interfaces and to the bridge to render the gateway portable; and

first and second antennas located at opposite ends of the housing and associated respectively with the first and second wireless communications interfaces,

the first and second antennas being external to the housing,

the first and second expansion slots being coplanar and opposite ends of the housing along a longest length of the housing.